Stero v Laasko 2007 NY Slip Op 34513(U) April 12, 2007 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: /06 Judge: Joan B. Carey Cases posted with

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1 Stero v Laasko 2007 NY Slip Op 34513(U) April 12, 2007 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: /06 Judge: Joan B. Carey Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various state and local government websites. These include the New York State Unified Court System's E-Courts Service, and the Bronx County Clerk's office. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication.

2 [* 1]..., g ~... ; S.UPREMECqURT qf:the STATF: Of'Nf;W YORK" - NEW"YO~K>co_u~TY PRESENT:' Honorable Joan B. Carey PART.. 40 D :~µstice PAUL STERO, - -:-=- i. I ; J. :i I ji l. 1 r", ;pi_aiotiff ~. tndex;~o.~:. :. :MQi'i'!c!N QATE:~ --.-,f- :.j. - ~ - ~.-:--,. ' - ~...\llt\~191lq~jt\~j',; ' ~.. ':.. ~ J arsuat1ti.jio~ xeal)jr ~~~~u;m~~~~~w~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. - :l, _. sctrrfii~~ee~i@l~if.tfnri.:&"iahfii,t1-~iifiliiiits~1a~tfi1c'iraifilifili~t.if.el1'.sl:'hil1ici~ir~'i.~~ :. I..,.'fi'mfliYalilffinitiV~?deliase;i'f8tih'C0011ltat.iarmi'fflliil~fiar~FnHilas,not1iltrvif.1~c~aahc'~ :l r, ' I : : MJ)tlllGPJliR":._i'fs'U251.antlrtto:.-eiiiiial&'tiiSro~~iR5f.rerfitMir'bafilj 1,. tnil'so&'nt toi 13tr611>1;,Jitia"2i:t:b~'~. :. :! : ~ 1 ~h101ion1bvtd~f'en'tiaift~iiofitfiruilmiifi!al~ril1.ftfef.sf;jl"n~"'~;;to~1s.tlfii~th'a~tn)~cjda)uiil1st[il..- " ~ ''. <~,1Piir.tu~rit'~tS>1 RiTR~]CS~fu1\~, ' -_. ':_. c. ~.---:-,:._-'.-;,., ~-~"'r""i, L-.~,.-, --~"''.'-'e._, :-c --.-,-- -- ~>,:.:_. -,".- -,, '. ".~-~--,-,- : _,_~ -.. : ;eapers~number~a - "'.:: ;. 1, 1~i1~.~~~j~~!:r~=:~~t>~;;~~:~~l;Jl't~~!fe~,~'"c. _ " ~~;;s~~~~f'>'.:.-.1 -:. :",: ~~fit:ro) ~n: itt~p~tit~ftl~-~os;\iqn~t<>l~ffl'.ci~;~t\~-~~z~.~"o~_trp~ijt;>,~1bljj~x@~itli -. :: : -~'~~~ift:. ~f'. ~" _:., < ;. :'':J - -:lfep.iy,r!iffi"matioh~o~lfositiijfi'tcfifrofi~ c -- ~tit>ii: iccotif '-&"'\'~l""~::ef 1 't( 1rt:s'. 'B:61-:tv.'~ _:''.:~ _. ~: 1 -_.;f{i#w,!:~ifi~fu~i'iorl'.1-cp. = _ ::- :-.< -,~~-"-":'::'n~~~_,_j)"_,_, P,-,,.Q.,.:OD. )<,.L~,_,, 1 :1.'.1"'.' _Li-1_;:;~._:: 1 I 1: ;,_, ' - ~ j.,.,. O Nq:-.J::." ' : -~ :' (.. (' -, _:. ~, '~. ': ' t.':,_ - --~- ' -.;_ ~. - - :::._. -~ ~. --~-~.;:- '" :,

3 [* 2] with Dr. Schneider regarding his condition, failed to arrange for plaintiff to be admitted into the hospital in a timely manner, and failed to make a timely diagnosis. Plaintiff presently moves for an order granting leave, pursuant to CPLR 3025(b), to amend the complaint, nune pro tune, so as to add Steven Schneider, M.D., and Robert Marbach as defendants. CPLR 3025(b) sets forth that leave to amend orsupplement a complaint "shall be freely given" (CPLR 3025(b); see also Leff v. Benihana of Tokyo, 304 AD2d 350 (1st Dept. 2003]). In the instant action, where there exists no prejudice to the defendants, and, in fact, defendants did not submit any opposition in connection with the amendment, plaintiff may amend his complaint to add Steven Schneider, M.D., and Robert Marbach as defendants. A ccordingly, that portion of plaintiff's motion seeking leave to supplement the summons and complaint, nune pro tune, so as to add Steven Schneider, M.D., and Robert Marbach as defendants is granted. As leave has been granted, pursuant to CPLR 3025(b), to supplement the summons and complaint, nune pro tune, so as to add Steven Schneider, M.D., and Robert Marbach as defendants, defendant Steven Schneider, M.D. no longer has a basis to maintain his ninth affirmative defense, which alleges a f ailure by plaintiff to serve his amended verified complaint in accordance with CPLR Accordingly, Steven Schneider, M.D.'s ninth affirmative defense is stricken from his answer. Plaintiff further seeks to extend his time to serve defendant Robert Marbach. CPLR 306-b provides that service of a summons and complaint shall be made within 120 days of filing the complaint w ith the clerk of the court. Where serv ice is not made upon a defendant within the 120 day period, a plaintiff's time to serve may be extended "upon good cause shown or in the interest of justice" (~ CPLR 306-b; see also Leader v. Maroney, Ponzini, 97 NY2d 95 (2001 ]; Lippett v. Education Alliance, 14 AD3d 430 [1st Dept. 2005]; De Vries v. Metropolitan Transit Authority, 11 AD3d 312 [ 1st Dept. 2004]; Goldstein v. Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, 1AD3d188 [1st Dept. 2003]; Wideman v. Barbel Trucking, Inc., 300 AD2d 184 [1st Dept. 2002]). In the instant action, although plaintiff filed the amended complaint on October 13, 2006, Robert Marbach was not served until February 24, 2007, 134 days following the filing of the complaint. According to plaintiff, on January 11, 2007, he learned that Robert M arbach currently resides in the state of Pennsylvania, and as a result, was unable to timely serve Mr. Marbach. The " good cause" and "interest of justice" standards are two distinct standards under which a plaintiff may seek an extension of time to effectuate service of process (see Leader v. Maroney, Ponzini, supra; De Vries v. Metropolitan Transit Authority, supra). "The legislative history indicates that the interest of justice standard is a broader standard designed 'to accommodate late service that might be due to mistake, confusion or oversight, so long as there is no prejudice to the defendant" (De Vries v. Metropolitan Transit Authority, supra, citing Bill Jacket, L ch. 476, at 14). Unlike an extension request brought under the good cause standard, a plaintiff may be granted an extension of t ime to effectuate service in the interest of justice even where a plaintiff was not diligent in its initial attempts to serve the defendant within the time frame set forth in CRl!.R 306-b. Although it is not clear that plaintiff in the instant action can establish good cause to extend the time to effect service on defendant Robert Marbach, an extension is warranted in the interest of justice. Not only was the length in delay of service minimal, as defendant Robert Marbach was served only fourteen ( 14) days after the 120 statutory period, but plaintiff promptly moved for an extension of time to serve once he learned that Mr. M arbach resides in Pennsylvania. Moreover, the defendants cannot claim that they have been prejudiced in any way by plaintiff's

4 [* 3].fail!Jre to tim.e~~ serve ~o~~rt M~rlJ~c:h. A~C#.ordingly., tbat- PQ.rtion'of plain~iff' s mc>ti~n. a~eking an ~?<t~fi~iof'! of1im@ ~o s~rye def~ndttntrol)ert M~rbactl.is'-51rante~. Defendarit.Contitn.iu~HealttiPartners,Jnc. (hereinafter ucontinuum";) presentl\'.c.i'oss~moves. ~o di~j)liss the. ~ction as asserted ~-~r~ihst i~.jlul'su.al"lt. t~ c('l~.~.2.l 1 1 ~ 9911tiri"'um. a~ts forth that its :only role Yfit.h..~esi>~ct. to~:th'j~lijigtiw$, m~~. c.~1jr~~jln~'1t ;V{~s'~to facili\ate Q.r.', ~~~~~so~s. billi~9. It.is '.~~gued th~t, s'nce continuum,j)rovid_,d only: a@.mjnis~r~~or.e $.~hii ~$ in; c91j6!.1i,on wit'1 plaji)ftff'i.s care; an~ ~id not:.provi~~&.~li.y..m~(li_~a{.tr.t lll\8-ni.to. P.l@tnfiff,.it may n'qt:.bg:beld. 1 fiqbie for t~~k,il~~~: 91 L~~~~o. 10 $y-p,p9n, ~tl w:.~.triss~tn_oti~n,:~~~!i~~~m: ~~fp.i«~_ctfj.lttt1r :.~({!t;~h:,;,,ffifl~vit -,-~fi:'g.' "t. - - r-\g'_.,.., '1!0,,-, ~~ t1;c,:, 11. if : - b-'''r "t1f'ittk" , r ; n-. 1.,..-._'"' ~ft,. 1"'e" ~i'h~,~r fll.f!.q 1.. Pn.lOQUm s. ~ _er~.- J>tlf.1$,~""'-'- ~,,~,.~,.~~ "A,1,.u,;.,_J.~t~~,~r:!"-9$~Us, y. pr,g'.v, M akj.\ J:~J. S~~f9:,.~ to \iar.c,.'u~f $t~_a1fjo~pit~!~. :~1$0 ;af~t~d '(n,.thf~--~~ff_id_lfylt--f$ ttiat Dr~ ~aal(s9. ts.'.ijq.t~mp{ Y,~d by th1-um: gt.any of its ~fflli_ated :heajt~~at~ ~o~~l~(jljpn_ lit-,qpp~sitioo. to tbi~: t;ir:o~$~rrtqti'qni:.,p1~~!fl;l~~4u:~~~m!"~'~ll~11t~. ~, ~~1.~1i1~m,?ttt~ont~o~~aJlr.1 1f&ft~ct!<i~~~@nt1~~~~)ftffllt.~~.1',wttJt9t;. \f$),~~~js'-j: i(oljtiji~ 1 :1i~lO; 1~jjYi~!~tt'_-.t>Jf ~~tt~~~-{~jj1,irut\fffl'.1jjt ~--~~ Jj~l<f Vij:~th:>4~1~f IJj_~bJt!: '.<fqt:<tl)~. ':\J(.4it.i:bJ!Jltl[pl()Vid@tJitC).!Jp~jp11"1li:yz.J{[)~~.l;.1(dk~,,;.; > : x -.. '... \ ;,. i ~=f!""l r!!\::fd~.. n-6t,\vel~jfe'en '.llloftd 'c-+ell~,,1s'8e,!~~d~~;l, ieja-n:fi''1r'b'1 ' 1~bu~llfdti '. a~~i.e~~f ~5~~1. 1 -~- ~~~- ~ -'-: ~ \ _.- -. _.!J~ j.~. l~.j.. ~~--.-~,~-.-:-~ ~A~ -~~ W-,. ~. ii)1'.11fr~ it;ji.~~\ ~ ~~1J~b1-~}Jan:c;:~ireff ~mlon~ i _ - tlff1,itfftiul~i '.l>a';pjp:!t!<j, ~r:-~pia~-ff~cf _""' (>:cd ~pj;j) _ ;. ~f't2'.p1~~ot~~l~'1 ~fl.~jj,nji!l.up~;ti ~~);~am~_,~~~ ~~itfuc:('!l-l!sl<j_r-1 _ ar~,t:@~~i".9jt9j1~1lti9'1i~o1;rj~~t!~): lo1,tt1e;illijmi!i il: 1 :O't :tjt~ ~91if.PJaJ~~~~1 J~JnJ:f'i~lfr.t,li,fip_qiilJ ~:c;_-oo. li':i'. ~e<ip:flr:wo:m,~.:irq"tj.rffl:o.tfgn:. 1.m<~@.i!ittl1 w1fl1c1j -t P,r@jujJ(q@,) 1wilb1ife-ai-@r19fr~n:."w..,.,,. \ttt9'.tl~.t1'ftqf~~u_fpm@~ ["1~a~ft:fl,pur~uiilt:.t~. fjll:r#~ - ~~~~~~~f'.c,,. / ;.::,;;. -: < > :.. ~ : > :.:... ;.. ::_ : ~t,;. i:..: :-:. :.} ~ t '.,._-"=.... : _ _ : :"::_..:,,...! : ~: '. ; -~,, - :~ -.. ' :,:} AttfrQ_~gh1\~~fMR~tltJ~q~~~~Wtt1 ~"~11:Q~'l8}1:t{ i,,f~.~~l(f';~::i~t.t@l,\lht!ft~jj!9.~il~l:tq~dlt::..,.. twllic,;~~i,t; :tf'fci\'ke'.$j>1f,()~'1li~!ij.ij.,raj) it~t(p,~t'l'':b{f;\~t;jj~~--etl($id1~:ffli~'.~.~j~!l9.11djt;\;t~l,!!jit ~i~~111i~(~)jrl)~1. ~91l~flf:e;_r~U:t\l'J~~1lf@l;,pJ@'fnfJff:,~as 1.ijlf a 1 itil1:$tol~'il :CjtJi~J'~f 1 :~CJi_gw:... \,. ~... '..'. :. I. :";. '!... ~ -..-: ' ' : _,,. ' ~ -- ~ ;.::..:: :. :_; ---- ;.._. - -

5 - - ' ' p :. [* 4] ORDERED that this act~.qn 'shall b~~r ~he following~.caption: P-Al.iL 'STERO...., -v- Pl-,,.intiff,_ Index.No.: (06.,. :', :,:. " ~. '. _.- ;.- -~ ' _,.:. ;,. ::,.. :-. ' - : ~-. 1,, --,_ : ~'. - i;. I -.,,, 'l : I :(.:. ~~ : ' :.., (..',. ', :., '-._;;_: I ~.i.' -.~ ' _, '.;,, '',.,i.:., :_.L~,:.,1. ~ ~_.,_ ~ - - "~-~ ~ _ _ --~ - -~-- ':~~~---- _.,_ -- I " :: ~i _,,.::

6 [* 5] ORDERED that counsel for the parties are to appear before the court on July 13, 2007, at 100 Centre Street, Room 1306, Part 40D, at 9:30 am for a compliance conference. Dated: 4/ Check one: O FINAL DISPOSITION Check if appropriate: O DO NOT POST NON- FINAL DISP O REFERENCE J.S.C. / I